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To start off I've taken the LSAT twice (162, 163) and have a 4.0+ GPA. I had planned on applying this cycle but I did much worse on the September exam than I had expected. Right now my plan is to retake in February, sit out this cycle, and have everything ready to go when apps open up in September 2017. I had been PTing in the low 170s leading up to September but got wrecked on RC. I'm planning on focusing a lot of my prep for the next three months on RC, as well as preparing myself for the chance of a "weird" game like viruses. I'll have a week break for Thanksgiving and a three week break at Christmas to do nothing but study for the LSAT, as well as a light course load for both the rest of this semester and next semester, so I don't think waiting until June for my third take would be necessary. If I'm not where I want to be leading up to it then I'll reschedule, but I think I'll be capable of performing my best by February.

I 100% believe that this is what is best for me. However, my parents are extremely against it. I had always planned on being a KJD and they're trying to talk me into applying this year and shooting for my state flagship's law school. It's not a bad school (ranked in the top 30) and I'd have a good shot at a full-ride there, but I really don't want to stay in the Midwest. I see no drawbacks to sitting out a year. If I don't do well enough on my 3rd take to get into a T14 my state school will still be there as an option. How do I get my parents off my ass and convince them that this is, without a doubt, the best choice?

You show them employment statistics at out-of-state law firms from your state's flagship school. You show them the upward trend in JD candidates having at least a year or two of work experience under their belts before going. Or you just tell them to back off, because unless they're planning to finance your entire legal education, retaking and giving yourself some time to live in the real world for a bit will result in you getting better school options. And with your GPA, you'll be looking at money in the T14.

If you want to get out of the Midwest, then you need to go to a school that won't place you in that region by default.

cavalier1138 wrote: Or you just tell them to back off, because unless they're planning to finance your entire legal education, retaking and giving yourself some time to live in the real world for a bit will result in you getting better school options.

This, especially if waiting to apply means you would be working a job and paying for yourself in the gap year. Assuming your parents aren't lawyers, they have no clue what law school is and its relation to getting a legal job. Lots of people think all law schools are essentially equal and will land you a six-figure job, and they don't understand the cost of school.

If you are planning on waiting, make sure you don't get senioritis and let that GPA dip.

Thanks both of you! I'd like to be able to convince them by showing them the information that you suggested, but if that doesn't work I'm probably going to just be blunt and tell them that it's my life and I have to do what I think is best for me even if they don't support it. Thankfully they financed my undergrad so I won't have any debt when I graduate, but after that I'm on my own. They mean well so I don't want to push back too hard, but they're extremely misguided. They don't understand how law school works so they assume I'll easily be able to maintain the kinds of grades I'm accustomed to since I have always been able to before.

Mr Archer, senioritis is so real though lol. Knowing that I won't be in law school next year and this is the last time I'll be in a school setting for a while has helped me get over mine.

Mr. Archer wrote:

cavalier1138 wrote: Or you just tell them to back off, because unless they're planning to finance your entire legal education, retaking and giving yourself some time to live in the real world for a bit will result in you getting better school options.

This, especially if waiting to apply means you would be working a job and paying for yourself in the gap year. Assuming your parents aren't lawyers, they have no clue what law school is and its relation to getting a legal job. Lots of people think all law schools are essentially equal and will land you a six-figure job, and they don't understand the cost of school.

If you are planning on waiting, make sure you don't get senioritis and let that GPA dip.

So true. I think this is good, solid advice, OP.

I love my mother, but she did not understand the law school scheme. She was very encouraging, my original scores were similar to yours. Obviously the scores are not bad, but they won't achieve your goals. I think it's just difficult for people who aren't applying to grasp how important the school you attend really is. It's not really like undergrad at all, and like your parents, my mother didn't understand that. She had an idea that as long as I passed the bar exam I would be fine. You know what the right choice is, and it might be difficult to explain, but looking back I don't regret retaking and working.

I was never able to explain why I wasn't going to my local T50 school (really respected here), but I imagine when I start getting some T14 acceptances she may begin to understand.

I don't know your parents, but they sound like they love you and want what's best for you. You just need to sit them down and explain why doing what you're doing is best for you. They might not get it initially, but they'll eventually understand or at least respect your decision.

I had a similar issue. My parents are loving and supporting people, but they disagreed with a decision I was making. I explained why I was making the decision I was. They still disagreed. I told them that I have to do what's best for myself because it's my life. They understood and support the decision I made.(even though they probably still don't entirely agree with it)

I think you'll find that your parents are the same way. They love you and will respect you doing what you believe is best for you.

blackmamba8 wrote:Thanks both of you! I'd like to be able to convince them by showing them the information that you suggested, but if that doesn't work I'm probably going to just be blunt and tell them that it's my life and I have to do what I think is best for me even if they don't support it. Thankfully they financed my undergrad so I won't have any debt when I graduate, but after that I'm on my own. They mean well so I don't want to push back too hard, but they're extremely misguided. They don't understand how law school works so they assume I'll easily be able to maintain the kinds of grades I'm accustomed to since I have always been able to before.

This is a really good plan -- both for addressing law school, and really just life in general.

I'm almost 10 years out of undergrad, so it's definitely a different situation for me, but I had to stop even mentioning law school to my parents because they just don't get it. Last time my mom and I talked about it, she insisted that going to a nearby school ranked in the 140's isn't inherently a bad decision because {insert reason you'd choose an undergrad}. Since they're not paying for it, I've had to make sure to not let their opinions have ANY influence in my law school decisions. It's harsh, but law school's such a different monster than most other grad/professional school admissions (not to mention undergrad), and there's so much at stake/to lose.